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Hurricane Matthew Survivors Encouraged to Use Disaster Grants for Intended Purpose

SAVANNAH, Ga. – Officials urge Georgia’s Hurricane Matthew survivors to use their federal disaster aid for its intended purpose. Improperly using the funds could be a violation of the declaration survivors sign to receive the grants and could result in future assistance being denied.

Once approved for disaster grants, Georgia survivors receive FEMA aid via check or an electronic direct deposit to their checking account. They receive a letter from FEMA providing information about the grant and how the money can be spent.

Before survivors receive their grants, they must sign a declaration and a release certifying that all funds will be spent on the expenses for which they are intended.

These grants are for repairs, temporary housing and other approved, essential disaster-related costs. Disaster recovery officials are available to help survivors understand the way grants should be spent after they receive the funds. Georgia survivors who have questions about their grants should call FEMA’s Helpline at 800-621-3362.

Federal officials caution that the funds may be deposited into bank accounts before letters announcing the grants are delivered to survivors.

Housing funds may be used for:

Rental assistance. Applicants who have a continuing need for temporary rental assistance must turn in valid lease and utility receipts to receive additional assistance.
Reimbursement for lodging expenses directly related to the disaster.
Repairs to windows, doors, water and ventilation systems or other structural elements to return a home to a safe and functional condition.
Rebuilding a disaster-damaged home.

Recipients of FEMA’s Other Needs Assistance program grants may use the funds for:
Essential personal property, specialized tools for employment, household items, appliances and vehicle repair or replacement.
Disaster-related medical, dental, moving and child-care expenses.

Applicants should be sure to update their personal information including addresses, phone numbers and bank accounts. If FEMA does not have the correct contact information, disaster survivors may miss letters or phone calls about their applications for assistance or payment status.

FEMA grants cannot duplicate payments from other sources. For example, if a grant recipient receives an insurance settlement covering expenses already paid for by FEMA, those duplicated funds must be returned to FEMA.

Federal assistance is available to eligible individuals and households in Bryan, Bulloch, Chatham, Effingham, Evans, Glynn, Liberty, Long, McIntosh and Wayne counties. Damage or losses from Hurricane Matthew in Georgia must have occurred Oct. 4-15.

Survivors are encouraged to keep their information updated by logging into their account:

Online at DisasterAssistance.gov (also in Spanish).
Download the FEMA mobile app (also in Spanish).
Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362 (FEMA). Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. Toll-free numbers are open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. Help is available in most languages.

For updates on Georgia’s Hurricane Matthew response and recovery, follow @GeorgiaEMA and @FEMARegion4 on Twitter and visit gemhsa.ga.gov and fema.gov/disaster/4284.

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FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders to ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

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Hurricane Matthew Survivors Encouraged to Use Disaster Grants for Intended Purpose

Oswego County Fire Department Awarded New Fire Truck

New York, NY – The Fulton Fire Department will be purchasing a new, well-equipped fire truck to replace a 26-year-old truck that has been out of service since January of this year, as well as no longer compliant with National Fire Protection Association standards

“Without this federal grant, we would not have been able buy this equipment,” said David Eiffe, the department’s Assistant Fire Chief. “Our older equipment has often been inoperable, forcing us to borrow a truck from a neighboring volunteer fire department. We can’t serve our city that way; the NFPA standards are there for a reason.”

The funds for the truck come from an Assistance to Firefighters Grant, which is administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. “The truck will cost $450,000,” said Dale McShine, Director of Grant and Preparedness for FEMA’s Region II. The federal share will amount to $428,572, and we are very pleased to play such an important role in the safety of Fulton’s citizens.”

Fulton has a population of some 12,000 citizens. Its fire department, with 36 career firefighters, responds to a total of some 2,200 fire, emergency medical service calls, and car and industrial accidents, each year, said Chief Eiffe. “This new truck will be able to carry 750 gallons of water and pump 1,750 gallons per minute. It’s also equipped with a foam system that is highly effective in putting out house fires.”

The Chief said also that, in addition to saving taxpayers money that was needed for repairs of his outdated trucks, the new truck will contribute to the safety of our citizens for at least 15 years.

The Fulton Fire Department has two fire stations, on the east and west sides of the Oneida River. The new equipment will be located in the west-side station.

Assistance to Firefighter Grants provide support to numerous firehouses throughout FEMA’s Region II, which includes New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands. The program provides critically needed equipment, protective gear, emergency vehicles, training, and other resources to protect the public and emergency personnel from fire and related hazards.

Tania Hedlund, FEMA’s Region II Chief for Grants, reports that in fiscal year 2014, the Region awarded 273 grants totaling $95.6 million.

Oswego County Fire Department Awarded New Fire Truck

FEMA, State Grants Will Not Affect Social Security Or Other Federal Benefits

AUSTIN, Texas – Texas residents affected by the severe storms, tornadoes and flooding in March will not lose Social Security benefits, pay additional taxes, or give up income-based benefit programs if they accept federal or state disaster aid. This includes homeowners, renters and businesses in Erath, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Hood, Jasper, Limestone, Marion, Newton, Orange, Parker, Shelby and Tyler counties who register for disaster assistance.

In most cases, the Social Security Administration does not count federal or state disaster aid as income, according to recovery officials from the state of Texas and the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

A few questions that often come up following a disaster declaration are:

FEMA Grants

Question: I’m between 62 and 65 years of age, and have chosen to receive Social Security benefits. If my income is more than a certain amount each year, I must reimburse a portion of my Social Security payment. Will FEMA grants add to my income and require me to repay Social Security?

Answer: No. FEMA grants for housing and other disaster assistance are not counted as income.

Taxes

Question: I’m over 65, but if I earn more than a certain amount, I must pay tax on my Social Security income. Will FEMA grants boost my income and require me to pay tax on my Social Security income?

Answer: No. The IRS does not count FEMA grants for housing and other disaster assistance as income.

Other Assistance

Question: Will receiving a grant cause my income to increase to the point that I am no longer eligible for Medicaid, welfare assistance or food stamps?

Answer: No. Grants for housing and other disaster assistance are not counted as income in determining eligibility for income-tested benefit programs that the U.S. government funds.

Apply for assistance online at DisasterAssistance.gov or by phone at 800-621-3362 or TTY 800-462-7585. Applicants who use 711 or Video Relay Service may call 800-621-3362. The toll-free numbers are open seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

For more information on Texas recovery, visit the disaster webpage at fema.gov/disaster/4266, Twitter at twitter.com/femaregion6 and the Texas Division of Emergency Management website, txdps.state.tx.us/dem.

Visit fema.gov/texas-disaster-mitigation for publications and reference material on rebuilding and repairing safer and stronger.

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FEMA, State Grants Will Not Affect Social Security Or Other Federal Benefits

Disaster Assistance Teams Helping Mississippi Storm Survivors in Three Newly Designated Counties

OXFORD, Miss. – State and federal disaster survivor assistance teams are now working in three more Mississippi counties, helping residents recover from destructive tornadoes, severe storms and flooding in late December.

The teams are made up of disaster specialists from the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Emergency Management Agency. They are canvassing neighborhoods in Monroe, Panola and Prentiss counties, which were designated for disaster assistance last week.

Affected survivors in Monroe and Prentiss counties can also visit applicant service centers now open at the:

Chancery Clerk Building (across from the courthouse), 110 N. Main St., Booneville, MS 38829;
The Becker Community Center, 52246 Highway 25 South, Amory, MS 38821.

Survivors in Panola County can visit the disaster recovery center in neighboring Quitman County, which is located at the Marks Fire Department, 108 W. Main St., Marks, MS 38646 or any other center in a county designated for assistance after the December storms.

The teams can register survivors and electronically submit a request for federal assistance. Team members can be easily identified by photo identification and FEMA or MEMA clothing. Mississippi residents are encouraged to ask for official identification before providing personal information.

Federal disaster assistance for qualified applicants may include:

Grants to rent a temporary place to live, as needed.
Grants for essential home repairs not covered by insurance.
Grants for disaster-related needs not covered by insurance — such as medical, dental, transportation, funeral expenses, moving and storage fees, personal property loss and child care.
Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration to homeowners, renters and businesses of all sizes to cover losses not fully compensated by insurance.

In addition to the registration opportunity offered by recovery teams, survivors can register for assistance by the following methods:

Visiting DisasterAssistance.gov with a computer, tablet, iPhone, Android or other mobile device.
Calling 800-621-3362 or (TTY) 800-462-7585 for those who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired. Those who use 711 or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362 to register.
Business owners can find an electronic loan application on the U.S. Small Business Administration’s secure website at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Questions can be answered by calling the SBA disaster customer service center at 800-659-2955/ (TTY) 800-877-8339 or visiting sba.gov.

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All FEMA disaster assistance will be provided without discrimination on the grounds of race, color, sex (including sexual harassment), religion, national origin, age, disability, limited English proficiency, economic status, or retaliation. If you believe your civil rights are being violated, call 800-621-3362 or 800-462-7585(TTY/TDD).

FEMA’s temporary housing assistance and grants for public transportation expenses, medical and dental expenses, and funeral and burial expenses do not require individuals to apply for an SBA loan. However, applicants who receive SBA loan applications must submit them to SBA loan officers to be eligible for assistance that covers personal property, vehicle repair or replacement, and moving and storage expenses.

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Disaster Assistance Teams Helping Mississippi Storm Survivors in Three Newly Designated Counties

Federal aid programs for the state of Texas

Following is a summary of key federal disaster aid programs that can be made available as needed and warranted under President Obama’s disaster declaration issued for the State of Texas.

Assistance for Affected Individuals and Families Can Include as Required:

Rental payments for temporary housing for those whose homes are unlivable. Initial assistance may be provided for up to three months for homeowners and at least one month for renters. Assistance may be extended if requested after the initial period based on a review of individual applicant requirements. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
Grants for home repairs and replacement of essential household items not covered by insurance to make damaged dwellings safe, sanitary and functional. (Source: FEMA funded and administered.)
Grants to replace personal property and help meet medical, dental, funeral, transportation and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance or other federal, state and charitable aid programs. (Source: FEMA funded at 75 percent of total eligible costs; 25 percent funded by the state.)
Unemployment payments up to 26 weeks for workers who temporarily lost jobs because of the disaster and who do not qualify for state benefits, such as self-employed individuals. (Source: FEMA funded; state administered.)
Low-interest loans to cover residential losses not fully compensated by insurance. Loans available up to $200,000 for primary residence; $40,000 for personal property, including renter losses. Loans available up to $2 million for business property losses not fully compensated by insurance. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
Loans up to $2 million for small businesses, small agricultural cooperatives and most private, non-profit organizations of all sizes that have suffered disaster-related cash flow problems and need funds for working capital to recover from the disaster’s adverse economic impact. This loan in combination with a property loss loan cannot exceed a total of $2 million. (Source: U.S. Small Business Administration.)
Loans up to $500,000 for farmers, ranchers and aquaculture operators to cover production and property losses, excluding primary residence. (Source: Farm Service Agency, U.S. Dept. of Agriculture.)
Other relief programs: Crisis counseling for those traumatized by the disaster; income tax assistance for filing casualty losses; advisory assistance for legal, veterans’ benefits and social security matters.

How to Apply for Assistance:

Affected individuals and business owners in designated areas can begin the disaster application process by registering online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or by web enabled mobile device at m.fema.gov. Disaster assistance applicants, who have a speech disability or hearing loss and use TTY, should call 1-800-462-7585 directly; for those who use 711 or Video Relay Service (VRS), call 1-800-621-3362. The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. (local time) seven days a week until further notice. Applicants registering for aid should be prepared to provide basic information about themselves (name, permanent address, phone number), insurance coverage and any other information to help substantiate losses.

FEMA’s mission is to support our citizens and first responders and ensure that as a nation we work together to build, sustain, and improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards.

Stay informed of FEMA’s activities online: videos and podcasts available at www.fema.gov/medialibrary and www.youtube.com/fema ; follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/fema and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fema.

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Federal aid programs for the state of Texas

Fire Department in NJ Gloucester County to Receive Self-Contained Breathing Apparatuses

Federal Grant Eases Taxpayer Funding of Replacements

New York, NY — Firefighters of the Harrison Township Fire District #1 will be receiving 30 state-of-the-art, self-contained breathing apparatuses as the result of an Assistance to Firefighters Grant.

The AFG award totals $183,000 and was announced here today by Dale McShine, Director of Grants for Region II of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which administers the Region’s AFG program. She said the federal share of the grant comes to $174,286. The award will become effective today.

“The new SCBAs will replace 30 older models that are obsolete and will no longer be supported by their manufacturer. The new units will provide breathable air to the District’s 40 firefighters, the majority of whom are volunteer,” said Brian Bartholomew, the Fire District’s Business Administrator.

He said the District covers some 20 square miles with a population of roughly 14,000, adding that his District responded to some 370 fire calls last year.

“These SCBAs wear out over 15 to 25 years and need either to be totally replaced or are in need of parts, a responsibility that falls to the local taxpayers,” Bartholomew pointed out. “So, this grant not only provides safe firefighting equipment that benefits both our residents and our firefighters, but also relieves our taxpayers.”

Bartholomew said that this AFG means that his District will have new, safe equipment for “a number of years, and that we won’t have to be repairing each SCBA on a piecemeal basis.”

FEMA’s Dale McShine said that in 2013, Assistance to Firefighters Grants provided funding of almost $22 million to the 192 fire departments and EMS agencies throughout Region II, which includes New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands.

“These grants assist emergency agencies,” she said, “and we know that they provide safety and protection to entire communities. We are very pleased to be part of that process.”

For further information, please contact William H. Douglass at FEMA 212-680-3665 or 917-561-3223.

Follow FEMA online at www.twitter.com/FEMASandy,www.twitter.com/fema, www.facebook.com/FEMASandy, www.facebook.com/fema, www.fema.gov/blog, and www.youtube.com/fema.Also, follow Administrator Craig Fugate’s activities at www.twitter.com/craigatfema.

The social media links provided are for reference only. FEMA does not endorse any non-government websites, companies or applications.

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Fire Department in NJ Gloucester County to Receive Self-Contained Breathing Apparatuses

New Rescue Equipment to Be Awarded to New Jersey Fire Company

NEW YORK, NY — The Borough of Deal’s Board of Commissioners are happy to report that the Deal Fire Company No. 2 will receive a $60,000 federal grant to replace out-of-date rescue equipment. The Borough of Deal is located within Monmouth County, New Jersey.

The new extrication equipment will enable the town’s firefighters to rescue people trapped in a car after an accident or unable to move as a result of another calamity. Extrication tools include hydraulically operated cutters and spreaders. Cutters enable firefighters to cut through buckled car metal as a scissors would do to cloth, while spreaders widen cut metal to allow extrication of a pinned individual.

The $60,376 award is an Assistance to Firefighters Grant from Region II of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and was announced here today by Dale McShine, Director of the Grants Division of the Region. The federal share of the grant totals $57,501. The grant became effective July 31, 2015.

“This rescue capability is a key part of our fire company’s responsibility in Deal and in assisting our neighboring communities,” said Fire Chief John Anastasia. “And we value this grant because it takes the place of our aging equipment and will allow us to do our job more safely and effectively,” he added.

FEMA’s Ms. McShine pointed out that in 2013, Assistance to Firefighter Grants provided funding of $21.9 million to 192 fire departments and EMS agencies throughout Region II, which includes New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. “We know that these grants play major roles in the local communities that receive them,” she said, “and we are very pleased to be a part of this process.”

For further information, please contact William H. Douglass at FEMA: 212-680-3665 or 917-561-3223.

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New Rescue Equipment to Be Awarded to New Jersey Fire Company

Nine More Oklahoma Counties Approved for FEMA Disaster Assistance

OKLAHOMA CITY – Nine additional Oklahoma counties have been approved for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Individual Assistance as a result of severe storms, straight-line winds, tornadoes and flooding that began on May 5.

Homeowners, renters and business owners in Carter, Jefferson, Latimer, Mayes, Okfuskee, Okmulgee, Pushmataha, Stephens and Tulsa counties can now apply for state and federal disaster assistance. This brings the number of approved counties in Oklahoma to 33.

Individual Assistance was extended to those counties after a review of on-going damage assessments by the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

Disaster assistance for qualified applicants may include:

Grants for rental assistance or temporary housing;
Grants for home repairs not covered by insurance;
Grants for serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance—such as medical, dental, funeral, personal property, vehicles and moving and storage; and
Low-interest disaster loans from the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) may be available to businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, and homeowners and renters for losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations.

Counties previously approved for Individual Assistance as a result of the disaster declaration that covers the period May 5 through June 4 include Atoka, Beckham, Bryan, Caddo, Canadian, Choctaw, Cleveland, Comanche, Cotton, Grady, Johnston, Kiowa, Le Flore, Marshall, McClain, McCurtain, McIntosh, Oklahoma, Pittsburg, Pottawatomie, Rogers, Seminole, Tillman, and Wagoner.

There are three easy ways to apply:

Online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov;
Via smartphone or web-enabled device by using the FEMA app;
Or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362) or (TTY) 800-462-7585. Those who use 711-Relay or Video Relay Services can call 800-621-3362 to register.

For more information on Oklahoma disaster recovery, click www.fema.gov/disaster/4222 or visit the OEM site at www.oem.ok.gov.

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Disaster recovery assistance is available without regard to race, color, religion, nationality, sex, age, disability, English proficiency or economic status. If you or someone you know has been discriminated against, call FEMA toll-free at 800-621-FEMA (3362). For TTY call 800-462-7585.

The Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management (OEM) prepares for, responds to, recovers from and mitigates against emergencies and disasters. The department delivers services to Oklahoma cities, towns and counties through a network of more than 350 local emergency managers.

The SBA is the federal government’s primary source of money for the long-term rebuilding of disaster-damaged private property. SBA helps businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners, and renters fund repairs or rebuilding efforts and cover the cost of replacing lost or disaster-damaged personal property. These disaster loans cover losses not fully compensated by insurance or other recoveries and do not duplicate benefits of other agencies or organizations. For more information, applicants may contact SBA’s Disaster Assistance Customer Service Center by calling (800) 659-2955, emailing disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visiting SBA’s website at www.sba.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals may call (800) 877-8339.

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Nine More Oklahoma Counties Approved for FEMA Disaster Assistance

FEMA Teams in Neighborhoods Helping Kentucky Storm Survivors

FEMA Teams in Neighborhoods Helping Kentucky Storm Survivors

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Disaster survivor assistance teams are working in storm-stricken neighborhoods helping Kentuckians recover from the April storms.

The teams are made up of disaster specialists from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and FEMA Corps. They are canvassing areas to give residents an opportunity to register for disaster assistance and to quickly address immediate and emerging needs. The teams can also provide application updates and referrals to additional resources when needs remain.

Using tablets, the FEMA teams can input a survivor’s information and submit a request for federal assistance. These mobile team members can be identified easily by their photo identifications and FEMA clothing. Kentucky residents are reminded to ask for federal identification before providing personal information.

Homeowners, renters and business owners affected by the April storms in Bath, Bourbon, Carter, Elliott, Franklin, Jefferson, Lawrence, Madison, Rowan and Scott counties can register for federal assistance.

Federal disaster assistance for qualified applicants may include:

Grants to rent a new place to live temporarily as needed.
Grants for essential home repairs not covered by insurance.
Grants for serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance — such as medical, dental, transportation, funeral expenses, moving and storage fees, personal property loss and child care.

In addition to the registration opportunity offered by recovery teams, survivors can register for assistance by the following methods:

Online at www.DisasterAssistance.gov.
Calling 800-621-3362 (TTY 800-462-7585, Video Relay Service 800-621-3362).
By smartphone or tablet at m.fema.gov.

The toll-free telephone numbers will operate from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time seven days a week until further notice.

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FEMA Teams in Neighborhoods Helping Kentucky Storm Survivors page 2

Business owners can find an electronic loan application on the U.S. Small Business Administration’s secure website at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. Questions can be answered by calling the SBA disaster customer service center at 800-659-2955/(TTY) 800-877-8339 or visiting www.sba.gov.

To learn what protective measures to take before, during and after an emergency, visit www.ready.gov.

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For more information on Kentucky’s disaster recovery, visit www.fema.gov or http://kyem.ky.gov.

On Facebook, go to http://www.facebook.com/KYEmergencyManagement. To receive Twitter updates: http://twitter.com/kyempio or www.twitter.com/femaregion4.

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FEMA Teams in Neighborhoods Helping Kentucky Storm Survivors

Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas Receive FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety Grants

DENTON, Texas — Agencies in Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas have received $412,267 in Fire Prevention and Safety (FP&S) Grants from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The Houma, Louisiana Fire Department’s grant totals $28,595 and pays for smoke alarms, extinguishers and an inflatable fire house.

The grants in Oklahoma include:

• Oklahoma State University in Oklahoma City for $65,759 to pay for smoke alarms, fire extinguishers and other materials;
• The city of Bartlesville Fire Department in Oklahoma for $25,245 to pay for fire and arson investigation equipment; and
• Oklahoma Assistive Technology Foundation for $282,679 to pay for a smoke alarm campaign.

In Texas, the Greenwood Rural Volunteer Fire Department’s grant totals $9,989 and pays for fire prevention education and 911 sign installation.

FP&S grants are part of the Assistance to Firefighters Grant program. These grants support projects that enhance the safety of the public and protect firefighters from fire and related hazards. The primary goal is to reduce injury and prevent death among high-risk populations. For more information about FP&S grants, visit http://www.fema.gov/welcome-assistance-firefighters-grant-program/fire-prevention-safety-grants.

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Louisiana, Oklahoma and Texas Receive FEMA Fire Prevention and Safety Grants

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